Fence-making machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

VE TOR- Patented Sept. 9, 1890-.

I J W I E H 1 l T. P. MADILL. FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

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T. P. MADILL.

FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

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T. P. MADILL. FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 436,180. Patent ed Sept. 9, 1890.

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THOMAS P. MADILL, OF ALBANY, OREGON. I

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,180, dated September 9, 1890.

Applicationfiled January 17,1890. Serial No. 337,182. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be. it known that I, THOMAS P. MADILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Albany, in the county of Linn and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinMachinesforMakingFences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art towhichitappertainstomakeandusethesame.

This invention relates to machines for making fences; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described, and definitely pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine for 'making fences constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.- 2 is a side view of the upright with the twisting mechanism in position therein. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. at is a perspective view of the guide and bearing for the twisters. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upright from the side opposite to which the twisters are arranged to illustrate the guide and lever. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the post carrying the adjustable tension device. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the tension device.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the fence-posts, between which the pickets are to be placed'which form the fence. The wire, Wound upon an ordinary reel, (not shown,) passes to the tension-post 3,

which post has arranged on opposite sides strips or plates 4 at equal distances apart. These strips are provided with parallel rows of perforations 5, in which are placed the cocentrics 6, around which the wire passes.

These eccentrics may be adjusted vertically with relation to each other, so as to vary the space therebetween, in order to allow different thicknesses of wire to be employed,.and are provided with studs or pins which engage in the perforations 5, where they are immovably held, so as to prevent their rotating by the tension of the wire. The proper tension of the wire is secured by adjusting these eccentrics so as to bring their surfaces nearer to or farther from each other; but when properly adjusted they are not allowed to rotate.

The numeral 9 designates brace-rods for the 13 is journaled, and the upper end 14 of said plate is extended above the lower one of recesses 15 in said upright. The upright 11 is provided with a series of recesses -15 on one side, in which the twisters 16 are placed, and

with intermediate recesses 17, in which the gears 18 for rotating the twisters are placed. The twisters are provided with openings 32 to allow the passage of the wires, and the uprights are provided with slots 33, by means of which the wires may be inserted in the openings in the twisters by said openings and slots being brought into coincidence by rotating the twisters. The bearings of the twisters should be made of tempered steel, so as to avoid liability of their being cut or scratched by the wire passing therethrough.

To retain the twisters and gears in place, I provide the castings 19, consisting of the cross-piece 20, in which the shafts of the gear bear, and the curved side arms 21, having recesses or sockets 22 in their ends, in which the peripheries of the twisters are received, and which serve to retain said twisters in place. i

To one side of the upright is secured the bracket 23, in which is mounted the drivinggear 24, having abevel-gearflt, which meshes with. a similar gear 249 on one of the twisters. The gear 24.- meshes with a smaller gear or pinion 23, mounted in said bracket and provided with a driving-shaft, for the purpose of increasing the power, or said driving-gear 24. may be driven direct, asdesired. To the opposite side of said upright is secured the yoke 25, having a slot 26, through which passes the bar 27, one end of which is pivoted to the upright and the other end loosely pivoted to the lever 28, so as to permit of a slight lateral as well as vertical movement of saidlever, the lower end of which is forked or bifurcated at 29 to embrace the lower end of one of the wired pickets. By this means the upright may be pushed along to allow another picket to be inserted.

3O designates the guides secured to the upright, and 31 designates the rest below said guides, on which the ends of thepickets rest when placed in position, and which serves to keep the picket-s in proper line.

The operation is as follows: The wire passes from the reel around the eccentrics on the tension-posts, and said eccentrics being fixed or stationary when properly adjusted, the desired tension is assured by frictional contact of the wire therewith. From the eccentrics the wire passes through the twisters, by which it is twisted. The pickets are adjusted by means of the guides 30 and the rest 31 to the proper position. The twisters are then revolved, twisting the wire and securing the pickets in the manner well known. The lever is then grasped and moves the upright, the bifurcated end of the lever engaging one of the previously-wired pickets, which forms a fulcrum for the lever and enables the upright to be moved thereby.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a fence-1nachine,tl1e con1bination,with

the upright having recesses on one side and radial slots on .one edge, the twisters having radial slots therein adapted to register with the slots in the upright, and means for operating said twisters, of the casting consisting of the cross-bar and curved side arms having recesses in their ends arranged to retain the twisting-gear, substantially as described.

2. In a fence-1nachine,the combination,with the upright, the twisters, and means for opcrating the same, of the guides 30, rest 31, roller 13, the yoke 25, the bar 27, pivoted to the upright and passing through aslot in the yoke, and the lever 28, having a bifurcated lower end pivoted to said bar 27 and adapted to engage with one of the wired pickets, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS P. MADILL.

WVitnesses:

GEO. I-I. KEENEY, O. G. BURKHART. 

